JPH0131912B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to hair twisting devices, and more particularly to hand operated hair twisting devices for use with human or synthetic hair. Equipment for twisting or weaving thread-like materials is widely used in the textile industry. Such devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 830,137, issued to Diss.
No. 1398444 issued to September 2, 1924.
Re.15909, issued to Pfrunder, and the same issued to Mitchell et al., January 14, 1969.
Disclosed in No. 3421406. Such knitting machines are complex devices that are made to be part of an overall machine and typically use complex mechanical mechanisms. A braiding device specifically made for braiding hair is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,996, issued August 2, 1977 to Eronini et al. The hair braiding device of this patent is a motor-operated, portable hair braiding machine that uses a plurality of foot members to separate the hair into sections of the intended width of the scalp. The idea is to grab the hair, tighten it, rotate the strands of hair, and braid the strands together to form pigtails. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand-operated hair twisting or braiding device. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for braiding artificial hair such as human hair or doll hair.
To provide a new and improved hair twisting device suitable for even young children. The gist of the invention is to provide a handle means adapted to be held in the hand, and a trigger pivotally connected to the handle means and spring biased in one direction for manual operation against biasing forces. a shaft means coupled to said handle means; a gear means disposed on said shaft means and cooperating with said trigger means to rotate in response to actuation of said trigger means; housing means; a clutch means disposed on the shaft means between the gear means and the housing means; supported by the housing means;
The first one is designed to grab the first and second hair strands,
second spaced apart hair clutching means disposed within said housing means and cooperating with said clamping means to permit simultaneous rotation of said first and second clamping means upon actuation of said trigger means; and twisting the hair bundle into a tuft by restraining the rotation of the housing means, and alternating the positions of the first and second hair clamping means relative to the handle means upon actuation of the trigger means. and means for releasing said housing means to apply a twist to said hair tress. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of preferred embodiment]

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a human or doll head 10;
The first and second tresses 12, 14 of the hair are gripped by first and second clamping members 16, 18 of a hair braiding device (indicated generally by the reference numeral 20). The hair braiding device 20 is hand-held and includes a support structure or handle 22. An actuating member or trigger 24 is pivotally attached to the handle so that it can be held and actuated with one hand by the operator. As explained later, the trigger 24 is
During operation, handle 22 and trigger member 24 are repeatedly compressed against the force of spring 26 against them. The portion of the trigger member 24 remote from the pivot point is formed with an arcuate rack 28 which cooperates with a gear member to rotate a shaft connected via a one-way clutch or ratchet mechanism 30. and selectively rotate the disc housing 32 to ultimately obtain the required movement of the hair clamping members 16,18. Before explaining the hair braiding device in detail, its operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The hair clamp members 16, 18 (in the form of "alligator clips") have generally parallel axial projections 36, 38 that connect to gear members of a gear mechanism within the housing 32. There is. In this manner, clamp members 16, 18 can be rotated relative to each other and relative to housing 32. Because the housing is rotatable relative to the handle 22, the positions of the clamp members 16, 18 are interchangeable. Referring to FIG. 1, hair tresses 12 and 14 are held at their ends by clip portions of clamp members 16 and 18, respectively. Next, the operator grasps the housing 32 with one hand 40 and holds the housing 32 so that it does not rotate. Next, use your other hand (not shown) to
grip the trigger member 24 and squeeze it so as to rotate the trigger member 24 toward the handle 22 against the force of the spring 26. At the same time, clamp member 1
6 and 18 rotate in the same direction (indicated by arrows drawn around axes 36 and 38, respectively). Since the disk housing is stationary, the clamp member rotates relative to the housing 32. This movement imparts a twist to the individual tresses 12,14. When trigger member 24 is released and returns to its home position under the force of spring 26 (housing 32 is restrained), ratchet mechanism 30 separates to permit this reverse movement of trigger member 24. Trigger member 24 is then repeatedly squeezed to impart the desired twist to tresses 12,14. Referring now to FIG. 2, after imparting the desired twist, housing 32 is released and allowed to rotate freely relative to handle 22. Trigger member 2
4 relative to the handle 22 rotates the housing 32 in a direction opposite to the twisting direction (as indicated by the arrows surrounding the clamping members), alternating the position of the clamping members 16, 18 relative to the handle 22. As shown in FIG.
When pressed down in the direction of the arrow, the housing 32 rotates clockwise (see also Figure 4). When the trigger member 24 is released and actuated into the normal position under the force of the spring 26, the housing 32 remains stationary without any assistance and the strands 12, 14 are oriented in one direction, as will be explained later. perform knitting. This is because the gear mechanism within the housing 32 incorporates pawls or dogs and springs to prevent the tresses 12, 14 from untwisting during operation of the device 20. With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the hair braiding device 20
The overall structure of is explained below. Handle 22
is hollow and the coiled portion 25 of the spring member 26
The spring member includes an integrally formed stub 42 surrounded by a stub 42 with one free end of the spring member being restrained by the inner wall surface of the handle 22 and the opposite free end pressing against a raised portion or shoulder of the trigger member 24. are doing. The opposite end of the handle 22 receives a shaft 44, one end of which is locked within a hole 46 in a web 48 formed across the handle 22. A gear portion 50 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 44. In the middle of the shaft 44 (from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3) is a compression spring 52 surrounding the shaft 44 and a mounted integral member 56 which is rotatable relative to the shaft 44. Driven gear member 56a and ratchet member 5
6b, and a second integral member 58 rotatably mounted on shaft 44, having a ratchet portion 58a and a gear portion 58b; It is held on the shaft 44 by a keeper 60 at the opposite end of the shaft gear 50. Inside the housing 32, first and second gear members 66, 68 are secured to respective ends of the shaft projections 36, 38 of the clamp members 16, 18. These gear members 66, 68 mesh with the main drive gear portion 58b of the second integral member 58 (see also FIG. 4). In this way, the gear members 66, 68
will have shaft projections 36, 38 extending therethrough and providing a bearing support connection to the housing 32. Functionally, the compression spring 52 is applied to the ratchet portions 56b, 58a during rotation of the driven gear portion 56a.
are pressed into a cooperative state and moved simultaneously. on the other hand,
During reverse rotation of the driven gear portion 56a (housing 32
(is being restrained), the ratchet part will separate. For reasons that will become clear later, both the first and second integral members 56, 58 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 44, with only the shaft gear 50 being fixed to the shaft 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner surface of the housing 32 is generally cup-shaped with a circular cross section. A first leaf spring member and a second leaf spring member are mounted in the housing 32 in a radial direction. The leaf spring members 70, 72 have their first ends connected to the housing 32.
and extend inwardly therefrom to engage first and second pawl or dog members 74 and 76, respectively. Each of the dogs 74 and 76 has almost the same shape and is attached to the housing 32.
It is pivoted between the opposing top and bottom walls of the. Dotsugu 7
4 is rotated by a leaf spring member 70, and the shaft gear 50
The dog 76 is rotated by the leaf spring member 72 and is pressed into engagement with the drive gear member 58b of the second integral member 58. As seen in FIG. 4, when housing 32 is released and drive gear 58b rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow, housing 32 will also rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow. Shaft 44 and shaft gear 5
0 is fixed relative to the handle 22, during this clockwise rotation of the housing 32, the dog 74
rides on the teeth of gear 50. When the trigger member 24 is released and the housing 32 is also released, rotation of the housing in the opposite direction is prevented by the dog 74 and shaft gear 5.
Forbidden by cooperation of 0. The position of shaft gear 50 is fixed relative to handle 22 and not relative to housing 32. When the housing 32 is restrained and the drive gear 58b rotates clockwise,
Clamp member gears 66, 68 simultaneously rotate counterclockwise as shown by the arrows. This occurs when a "twisting motion" is being performed. This operation and its reasons will become clear later while explaining the application of the device. The relative axial positions of the dogs 74, 76 are better shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and as can be seen, the dogs 74, 76 respectively
0, located in alignment with drive gear portion 58b. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rack 28 is connected to the driven gear portion 56a of the first integral member 56.
Collaborate with To explain the use and operation of the device 20, as previously described with reference to FIG.
The operation will be explained in relation to the "twisting" of the hair tufts 12 and 14. Next, as explained earlier with reference to Figure 2, the strands of hair twisted in this way are "braided".
I will explain about. First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, hair tresses 12 and 14 are grasped by clamp members 16 and 18,
If the housing 32 is manually restrained from actuation as shown in FIG.
4 is rotated against the force of the spring 26. During this movement of trigger member 24, rack 28 pulls first integral member 56 into fourth position, as shown in FIGS.
Drives clockwise as shown in the figure, and its rotation is
applied to the second integral member 58 via the ratchet member 30 (consisting of portions 56b, 58a);
The main drive gear portion 58b is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. During this rotation, dog 76 rides on the teeth of drive gear portion 58b, and dog 74 meshes with the teeth of shaft gear 50. The gears 66 and 68 are both
Rotate counterclockwise to simultaneously twist the hair tresses 12 and 14, as shown in FIG. When trigger member 24 is released and housing 32 is restrained,
Drive gear portion 58b attempts to rotate counterclockwise, but this action is inhibited by the binding of dog 76 within the teeth of the drive gear portion. Therefore, gear portion 58b remains stationary along with gears 66, 68. The trigger member 24 is then rotated and this action is repeated until the desired twist is imparted to the tresses 12,14. Trigger member 24
During movement in the opposite direction, portion 58b of ratchet mechanism 30 is axially displaced against the force of compression spring 52, allowing rack 28 to move without corresponding movement of drive gear portion 58b. Once the desired amount of twist has been imparted to the individual tresses 12, 14, the braiding operation can begin. During this operation, housing 32 is released and trigger member 2
4 is repeatedly squeezed to perform the braiding action of the hair tresses 12 and 14. Referring to FIG. 4, when housing 32 is released and trigger member 24 is depressed,
Main drive gear portion 58b rotates clockwise, causing housing 32 to rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow. Since the shaft gear 50 is fixed in place, the dog 74 rides on the teeth of the shaft gear and the positions of the gears 66, 68 are exchanged with the tuft. During this movement, gears 66, 68 may tend to rotate somewhat, but this tendency is resisted by the tension of the hair tresses gripped by clamp members 16, 18. In a special form, two small gears 6
6, 68, the housing 32
There is less friction when the whole body is rotated. When the trigger member 24 is released, the drive gear portion 58b attempts to rotate counterclockwise, but the engagement of the teeth of the dog 76 prevents this reversal. Correspondingly, since shaft gear 50 is fixed, housing 32 remains in the rotated position without reverse movement, and again ratchet mechanism 30 allows reverse movement of trigger member 24. Similarly, during this reverse movement, neither the gear portion 58b nor the shaft gear 50 is moving, so the gear member 66,
68 remains stationary. As a result, weaving of the tresses 12, 14 is accomplished by repeatedly squeezing the trigger member 24 to release and restrain the housing 32. (See also FIG. 2.) Thus, by the action described here, the tresses 12, 14 are twisted individually in the first direction, and the braiding action of the tresses thus twisted is effected in the opposite direction of rotation. . This reverse action helps maintain the knitted condition when removed from the device after the knitting action has been achieved. Furthermore, this counteraction helps to maintain some of the parts in place without unduly complicating the mechanism from an operational standpoint. While the preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various other adaptations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates the operation of the present invention and is a perspective view of a braiding device showing the twisting of a tress of hair. FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the winding of the twisted tresses around each other; FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially in section and partially cut away, of the weaving device of FIG. 1; Figure 4 is 4-4 in Figure 3.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3 along a line; FIG. Fifth
4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 3; Explanation of main symbols, 12, 14...first and second hair tufts, 16, 18...clamp member, 20...braiding device, 22...handle, 24...trigger, 30...
Clutch or ratchet mechanism, 32...disc.
Housing, 52...spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A hair twisting device comprising: a handle means adapted to be held by hand; and a spring pivoted in one direction for manual operation against biasing force. a biased trigger means; a shaft means connected to said handle means; and gear means mounted on said shaft means for cooperating with said trigger means and rotating in response to actuation of said trigger means. a housing means on the shaft means; a clutch means disposed on the shaft means between the gear means and the housing means; supported by the housing means;
The first one is designed to grab the first and second hair strands,
second spaced apart hair clamping means disposed within the housing means and cooperating with the clutching means to permit simultaneous rotation of the first and second clamping means upon actuation of the triggering means; and twisting the hair bundle into a tuft by restraining the rotation of the housing means, and alternating the positions of the first and second hair clamping means relative to the handle means upon actuation of the trigger means. and means for releasing said housing means to apply a twist to said hair tress.